Improvement in can-openers



1. 1. REED'.

Yan-Gpeners.

Patented'March 25, 1873.

gamins:

@hmmm UNITED vSTATES,

JOHN J. REED, or LYONs, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT |N CAN-OPENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,149, dated March25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. REED, of Lyons, in the county of Clinton andState of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Can-Opener,of which the following is a specication:

The ligure is a side view of my improved can-opener.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved knife for Openingtin cans, such as fruit-cans, oyster-cans, &c., which shall be simple inconstruction, convenient in use, and effective in operation; and itconsists in the canopener, the blade of which is made with a shoulderand curved edge, as hereinafter more fully described.

A represents the handle, to which is attached the shank or tang of theblade B. The blade B is made with a straight back and curved edge, asshown in the figure. The blade B is made with a sharp point, and uponits back, close to its point, is formed a shoulder or notch, b', asshown in thelgure. The shoulder b is intended to keep the blade frombeing pushed in too far when forcing the point into the can, and also toprevent the blade from sliding forward while making the cut.

In using the opener the point of the blade B is forced into the canuntil stopped by the shoulder b. The handle A is then pressed downward,which causes the blade to cut its way through the tin for its wholelength. The point of the blade B is then inserted at one end of the cutand a cross cutis made. The point of the blade is then inserted in theend of the cross-cut, and a third-cut is made. The piece thus cut outupon three sides can then be turned back with the point of the blade andthe can is opened. The' can-opener thus Operates as alever, the shoulderb operating as a fulcrum.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- A can-opener, A B b', constructed as described, witha curve or edge of blade, and a rectangular notch on back near thepoint, as and for the purpose described.

Witnesses: JOHN J. REED.

N. CORNING, W. C. GROHE.

